d his son. The hut was built on stakes driven into the bed of the lake, and was so high above the waters that even when

lose to the steps leading up to it from the water, the fisherman's curragh, made of willows, covered with skins,

so engaged he heard a rustle in a clump of sedge that grew close to one side of the hut. He turned to where the sound came from, and what should he see but an otter swimming towards him, with a little t

n the lake, a sound like that of water plashing upon water, and he saw the widening circles caus

hat was a little comrade come to look fo

dropped the little

ide the hut, and once more he heard the rustle in the sedge, and once

o do. He saw that it was the same little trout the

ight. I'll give you another, if o

as changed into a beautiful, milk-white swan. And 21 Enda could hardly believe his eyes,

soon as the morning stood on the hill-tops, and cast its shafts of

search of her, and every evening he lay outside the hut watching the waters. At long last, one night, when the full moon, rising above the mountains, flooded the whole lake with light, he saw the swan comin

ollow me," said she, and, saying th

n the moonlight. And he rowed after the swan, who glided on before him, until she came 22 to where th

e to the waters the second time. If you had not done so the first night the otter brought me to you I should have been changed into a hooting owl; if you had not done so the second night, I should have been changed into a croaking raven. But, thanks to you, Enda, I am now a sno

ou. O princess!" said Enda. "

e the perfumed water that fills the golden bowl that is in the

I get that?"

nd walk along its bed, until you come to where the lake d

said Enda; "but how can

f Brian, one of the three sons of Turenn, and his helmet of transparent cry

shall I f

"but you should set out at once, for if the spell be not broken bef

e first ray of the

ence are coming upon me, and I have only time to warn you that dangers y

l dangers for your sake,

ailed away from the shadow out into the 24 light across

rst faint glimmer of the morning came slanting down the mountains, he stepped into his curragh

ncing river a little woman, dressed

t brings you here to help the winsome Princess Mave. And now wait a

d then flung them on the river, and a dozen fairy nymphs came springing up through the water, bearing the water-dres

the waters. You will need the spear to enable you to meet the dangers that lie 25 before you. But with that

she floated out upon the river as lightly as a red poppy leaf. And when

rough the waters as if it came through muffled glass. He had not gone very far when he heard a horrible hissing, and straight before him he saw what he thought were two flaming coals. After a few more steps he found himself face to face with the dragon of the lake, the guardian of the palace of the fairy queen. Before he had time to raise his spear, the dragon 26 had wound its coils around him, and he heard its horrible teeth crunching against the side of his crystal helmet, and he felt the pressure of its coils around his side, and the breath almost left his body; but the dragon, unable to pierce

door with the point of the spear, and the door flew open. Enda passed through, and the door closed

hissing up, and with their 27 forked tongues made a horrible, poisonous hedge in front of him. For a second he stood dismayed, but then, levelling his spear, he rushe

back over the rocks on to the sandy plain. Enda was almost stunned, but the hissing of the serpents rising from the sand around him brought him to himself, and, jumping to his feet, once more he drove them down beneath the surface. He then approached the jagged rock, on the top of which he saw the filthy monster glaring at him with bloodshot eyes. Enda poised 28 his spear and hurled it against his enemy. It entered between the monster's eyes, and from the wound the blood flowed down like a black torrent and dyed the plain, and the shrunken carcase slipped down the front of the rocks and disappeared beneath the sand. Enda once more ascended the ro

ts have been alarmed by your strange dress and crystal hel

fairies, seeing him in his proper shape, got over their fright, and, unrestrained by the presence

"The golden cup you shall have to-morrow; but to-nigh

followed by Enda, she went on through the wood. When they had left it behind th

ing baskets of flowers, which they flung down on the steps to make a fragrant carpet for her. They were followed by a band of harpers

ystal hall that led to a banquet-room. The room was lighted by a single star,

ages, advancing towards her, and bending 30 low, as

of delicacies appeared upon the floor. Then she beckoned Enda to her, a

a," said the queen, "or you will never be

as small as her tallest page. Then she struck the steps of her throne, and all th

tiny jewelled drinking-cups were placed upon t

med to him as if he was being slowly lifted from his seat, and when the music ende

this light grew broader and brighter, and as the shadows fled before it, he could hardly 31 believe his eye

ed water that was to remove the spell of enchantment from the white swan of the lake, and sailing towards him from the sedgy bank came the snow-white swan; and when she touched the boa

" she said, "and row

ifter than a swallow in its flight. When the boat touched the

t take out your shining spear; the water-dress and

ut before it had reached halfway six nymphs sprang up from the water and 32 seizing the helmet and dress, sank with them

hounds and the cries of huntsmen, and crashing towards them through the low branches they saw a fierce wild boar. Enda, gently pushing the princess behind him, levelled his spear, and when the boar came close to him he drove it into his throat. The brute fell dead at his feet, and the do

elf, and her father, lifting her tenderl

than ever. I would gladly have given up 33 my throne for this. But say who is the champion wh

ushed like a ro

ther; it is he has br

g embraced E

fore you have shared the hospitality of my court. My pal

lloped up in answer to it, and when they saw the Princess Mave they were so dazzl

Mave, come back to

ed their lances, and bow

who has brought her home," sa

in their hearts they were jealous of the champion, for

of them, lifted Mave on to his own, and mounted behind her. The pages, carrying the boar's head on a hollow shie

's cruel stepmother, attended by her maids-of-honour and the royal bards, came forth to greet the king. But when she saw seated before him the Pr

d her up and carried her in his arms to her apartments, for he

epmother. And when she told him the whole story of how Enda had broken the spell of enchantment, 35 and of the dangers which he had faced for her sake, the king summoned an assembly of all his nobles, and seated on his throne, wearing his go

Bards and Druids and Nobles and Chiefs of Erin, have anything to say against this union, speak. But first, Mave," said the king, as he drew the blushing princ

ite arms around her fathe

you, and before all the princes and nobl

hair falling to her feet, the bards struck their golden harps, but the soun

Mave's when a Druid, whose white beard almost touched the ground, and who had been a f

given in marriage to any save a battle champion; and that stripl

us princes, and Congal, the bravest of them

g for all the nobles of your land, I challenge him to fight any one of us; and as he is young and unuse

of his words, struck their shields with their sw

se, became as white as a lily; but the colour returned to he

d my life already for your daughter's sake. I would face death a thousand times for the chance of winning her for my bride; but I would scorn to claim her hand if I dared not meet the boldest batt

ith joy as he listened to

the lawn outside our palace gates; but before our assembly dissolves I

al! Congal!" answer

ng, Congal?" a

king!" ans

"We shall all meet again to

ended by his bards and Druids, entered the palace, a

Druids, nobles and chiefs, took their places in due order. And the bards sang songs of love and battle, an

rs; but not to sleep or dream, for the Druid who had provoked the contest came to him bringing his golden wand, and all night long th

e Boyne, slid into his room, and she placed beside his couch a silver helmet and a silver shield. And she rubbed the helmet, and the shield, and the blue blade

helmet. At the sight of them he longed for the hour of battle, and he watched with eager gaze the sun climbing the sky; and, a

wn before the palace gates was ringed by the princes, nobles, and chiefs of Erin. And the palace walls were thronged by all the beauties of the Court and all the

from the ranks of the nobles, and the two champions approac

ised, ready for battle, the king gave the signal, which was answered by the clang of stricken shields, and Congal and Enda launched their gleaming spears. They flashed

when they saw him stretched motionless on the grassy sward, from out their ranks six warriors advanced to where t

g out clear as the sound of a

a has proved himself a battle champion, and who amongst you now

answe

lousy was extinguished in all hearts, and that all believed that Enda was worthy of the winsome bride; and never since that day, althou